Mail-box.



Patented Aug. 20, 190|. P. B. ENGLAH. Y

WHML BOX.

(Application filed Feb. 8, 1901.;

UMD Model.)

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lu uenfoz ivrrnn drains arent @tribut PRESTON n. Enorme, or rnunvrowu, MARYLAND.

Wielrennen.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent blo. 680,847, dated August 20, 1901. Application filed February 8,1901. Serial No. 46,4265. (No model.) i

To a/ZZ whom it may con/cern:

' Beit known that l, PREsToNB. ENGLAR, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Taneytown, in the county of Carroll and State of Maryland, have invented a Vnew and useful Improvement in Mail-Bones, of which the following is a specification. c

My invention relates to 'an improvement in mail-boxes, the object being toprovide a box more particularly adapted for rural-delivery service Where a postman rides along and delivers and collects, land one of the principal advantages resides in the facility .with which it can be opened and closed and mail-matter removed or deposited; and a further object is to provide a boxwhich will be simple in construction and which can be manufactured at a comparatively triing cost.

V'Vith these objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. 'K

In the accompanying yf lrawin'gs,'Figure 1 is a viewin perspective, showing the cover opent Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. '3 is a transverse section, and Fig. 4 is a'view of the supporting-bracket.

A represents the box, and B is the cover.

Both are preferably made ofy sheetv metal, and

the-box is adapted to be fixed in position, s

while the cover B is balanced and pivoted centrally at its ends to the ends of the bon. Referring to the box firstLit comprises in the `main the two ends l `l, similar in shape, be-

ing straight across the lower and front edges,

and rounded in the arc ofa circle between these straight portions .around the topl and Secured to these ends is the front 2, which extends from the angle of the ends to,

rear.`

the pointfwhere the ends curve, and from the 4angles of the end pieces preferably the same piece of sheet metal is bent horizontally to f form the bottom 3 and thence upwardly and around to constitute the back 4. The upper edge of this back; terminates sufficiently far from the upper edgeofthefront to leave an opening 5 ofV ample size for the reception of and removal therefrom of mail-matter. These parts may be secu red together in any approved manner. i l

As a means for strengthening the box the strips 6 6 are secured vertically inside the ends, and similar strips 7 7 outside are secured by the same rivets,\if desired. These latter braces 7 7, however, extend only to the centers of the ends and are offset slightly to receive the ends of the cover between them and the ends of the b'ox. A central brace 8 extends back of the box-front along the bottom and up the rea'igand at the front it serves the additional function of asupport for the staple or lock 10, which projects from the center of the front.

n The cover'B is semieylindrical in forin, comprising the ends 1 1 1l and the curvedtop 12,

secured together in any approved way. The

means of the metal strips le Maand pivots'l l5, extending through the ends of the coverA and box, furnish a pivoted connection upon which the cover swings, the latter being as .nearly balanced as practicable to insure its `easyl operation and a minimum of labor, as it causes an )automatic and complete" action of the cover after it has been partly opened or closed', as the case may be, and the extreme movement in each direction may be dened by stopsrl 16, placed at suitable points upon the ends of the box. A

A simple and automatic meansy of fastening the cover consists in a gravity-hasp 17, hinged at the center of the cover. Thishasp has the usual slot tb receive the staple, and its end 1S is upturned sufficiently, and the position vof the hasp issuch that-the staple acts as a cam against it,forcin`git aside as the cover is dropped, after which the has'p drops of its 'own weight over the staple and is in that way automatically caught and held, after Which it may be fastened securely by means of a padlock or a spring-lock of any kind, if desired, although for this particular service asga rule no lool; Whatever is required IOO his horse or vehicle, and thatis why the cover is balanced and provision is inade for automatically fastening the cover the moment it is dropped, so that it will not blow or otherwise be accidentally opened.

As a signal to indicate thepresence of mailmatter, I propose to use a tag 19, suspended by a chain 20, for instance, from the inside of the box. This is dropped outside to indicate to the postinan that there is something for collection. When there is nothing, the tag is dropped inside.

The box may be secured to the top' or side of a post to a fence, house, or other convenientsupport, and a bracket 2 is provided for that purpose. This may be'turued so that the upright portion extends up or down, as found most desirable, entirely according to the location', and to assist in .its attachment tbe plate 22 may be employed at the bottom.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangementof the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence l do not wish to limit 4myself to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A mail-box comprising ends, front, bottom and rear, the latter curved in the arc of a circle, a central braceextendiug continuously around from the upper edge of the front,

along the bottom and back to the upper edge of the latter and a fastening device secured to the front and brace, the brace thus having the combined function of bracing the parts of the box and supporting the fastening device.

2. A mail-box comprising ends, front, bottom and rear, the latter curved in the arc of a circle, acentral brace extending continuously around from the upper edge of the front, along the bottom and back to the upperedge of the latter, a fastening device secured to the front and brace, the brace thus having the combined function of bracing the parts of the box and supporting the fastening device, and abalanced cover pivoted to the ends of the box and provided with a catch adapted to automatically engage the fastening device when the coveris closed and to serve as a handle by which to raise the cover.

In testimony whereof I have signed this Specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PRESTON B. ENGLAR. Witnesses:

ROBERT S. MCKINNEY, VARTHUR W. CooMBs. 

